Electrical connection means



Jan. 1, 1924 J. SACHS ELECTRICAL CONNECTION MEANS Filed July 29, 1922 mazlk wa /Wm Zoad Patented Jan. 1, 1924.

JOSEPH SACHS, OI HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT.

ELECTRICAL CONNECTION MEANS.

Application me m :0, 1m. Serial m. was.

To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, Josnvn SACHS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hartford, in the county of Hartford and State of Connecticut, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Electrical Con nection Means, of which the following 1s a specification.

This invention relatesto the construction and arrangement of the means supphed to switch and cut-out blocks for making branch connections with main wires of electrical circuits. The mains are ordinaril two or three wire connections, whic hea stifl insulating wires which are d' cult to bend and loop. Saftey requires that wires of different larity be spaced or otherwise insulated om each other. 7

The object. of the present invention is to provide switch blocks, cut-out blocks and similar devices with means which facilitates the making of branch connections with mains and which at the same time ensures suitable separation of the wires.

This ob ect is attained by extending the conductors to be connected with the mains beyond the edge of the base to which the conductors are attached, and positioning the terminals of the conductors for the wires of difierent polarity in difierent planes with relation to the base, so that the main wires may be carried to the bussingI terminals b simple, easilg made bends, w ich termina 5 being at di erent levels permit the n sa separation of the wires to ensure safety wit out excessive bending.

In the accompanying rawings Fi re 1 shows a plan of a three wire switc and cut-out block with meter testin connections, that is provided with branc connecting means arranged according to this invention. Fig. 2 shows a front elevation of the block. Fig. 3 shows an edge view of one connection piece. Fig. 4 shows an edge view of another connection piece.

The invention is applicable to branch blocks in general. These blocks ma have connections may be solid links, or may include fusing or switching means, or a combination of such means. T block illustrated has a base 1 of insulating material mounted upon which are two fuses 2 and three switches 3. The fuses may be any desired type, those shown being ordinary screw lug fuses, and the switches may be any esired character, those shown being common knife blades.

At the upper edge of the base the switch blades are illustrated as connected with terminals 4. One of the terminals of each of the,fuses is connected with a terminal 5 at the u per edge of the base. In the block exempli ed. the outer pairs of the upper terminals are designed to be connected with meter leads in the customary manner. At the lower edge of the base the switch blades are connected with terminals 6, and the other of the terminals of each of the fuses is connected with a terminal 7 at the lower ed of the base. The two outermost termina at the lower ed e of the base are adapted to be connected with the load wires whereas the three inner terminals at the lower of the base are desi ed to be connec with the main wires. e terminals may merely be rovided with wire binding screws 8, or wit binding screws and meter testing lugs 9, or they may be rovided with wire clamps 10, the specific orm of means for attaching the circuit wires being immaterial.

In carrying out this invention the lower switch terminals 6 are, in the form illustrated, substantiall flat plates located in recesses 11 in the base so that their outer ends are lpositioned a little above the lower face of t e base at one level, whereas the lower terminals 7 connected with the fuses are bent upwardly and applied to the base so that their outer ends are positioned at a higher level than the switch terminals. Furthermore the fuse terminals 7 and the terminal 6 of the neutral line, besides being at different levels, are projected beyond the edge of the base. Of course the neutral ath could be omitted from the structure i the block was to be used for two wire service. As a result of extending the terminals of the connectors for the mains beyond the edge "of the base, and also positioning the ter minals for different polarities at difi'erent levels, the circuit wires may be conveniently connected without neoessitatin distortion of the wires, that is, the connections may be made without sharply looping in and out and up and down the stifl insulating wires to bring them up to the clamping terminals, and to se arate them so that wires of different po arity or potential will not be in contact or close proximity.

This invention is particularly serviceable when the blocks are to be enclosed in protecting boxes as the connections can be safely made in less space than with prior arrangements, which enables the boxes to be made smaller with a resultant saving in cost.

The invention claimed is L A branch block having conducting paths with terminals provided with wire attaching means, said wire attaching means at one end of the paths extending beyond the edge of the block and positioned at different levels, whereby circuit wires may be readily loo ed to said attaching means and those of di erent polarity suitably separated without excessive bending of the'wires 2. A branch block having conducting paths with bussing terminals at one end, said terminals extending beyond the edge of the block at different levels.

3, A branch block having conducting paths with bussing terminals at one end, said terminals being positioned at diderent levels,

4:. A branch block having conducting paths containing fuses'and conducting paths containing switches, and terminals for said paths provided with wire attaching means, the wire attaching means for said fuse paths being in a different plane from the wire attaching means for said switching paths.

5. A branch block having conducting paths with fusing means and conducting paths with, switching means, the terminals for said paths being provided with wire attaching means, said wire attaching means at one end of the paths projecting beyond the edge of the block and positioned at diiierent levels. r

6. A branch block having conducting paths with "fusing means and conducting paths with switching means, and terminals for said paths provided with wire attaching means, said wire attaching means for the fused paths being at one level and said wire attaching means for the switching paths being at a different level.

JOSEPH SACHS. 

